Rosie the Riveter: Women Working During World War II

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Working Memorabilia

#1 is the finished part made from using a grinder to put the grooves on the smaller end. #2 is the sliderule that Geraldine used. Donated by Geraldine Snyder Grisdale, accession 146. Geraldine was a grinder finisher at Strong Tool Co. in Flint, MI for 3 months, and then an inspector at A.C. Sparkplug in Flint, MI for 6 months. Size: slide rule 6” long and shaft 4” long.

 

Electric tool. Donated by Lawrence Shelton, accession 163. Size: 5”x9”.

 

Blueprint. Donated by Susan Ward, accession 180. Susan was a draftsman at Ladish Drop Forge Co. in Cudahy, WI for 3 years. Size: 11”x17”.

 

Set of drafting tools. Donated by Frieda Loretta Calvano, accession 267. Frieda worked in production at DuPont in New Jersey for 1 year, and then as a draftsman at Sperry Gyroscope in Brooklyn, NY for 2 years. Size of box closed: 2”x5”.

 

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Slide ruler with case, #1, and up close, #2. Donated by Doris Piper Warrick, accession 305. Anita Piper, donor’s sister, was an operator/calculator at Buick Motor Division’s Plant in Melrose Park, IL between 1943-1945. Size: 1.5”x10.5”.

 

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  1. Rivet. Donated by Ouida L. Ciotola, accession 257. Ouida worked on airplane maintenance and supply depot at Lubbock Army Air Force Base in Lubbock, TX for 1 year, and then at Army Air Force Base in Clovis, NM for 1 year. Size: ¾” long.
  2. Different sized and shaped rivets. Donated by Betty J. Patterson, accession 295. Betty was a parts installer and a riveter at Glenn L. Martin in Bellevue, NE between 1942-1945. Size range: ½” to 1.5” long.
  3. Rivets. Donated by Laura Lee Bitney, accession 303. Laura was a bucker and a riveter for 2 years. Size: 1.5” long.

 

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Test plate, top with rivets (#1) and piece cut out (#2). Donated by Nancy Derus Kowalski, accession 122. Nancy was a riveter at Douglas Aircraft in Cicero, IL for 2 years. Size: 3 ¾”x5 ¾”.

 

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Test plates, top (#1) and bottom (#2). Donated by Lucille Kramer, accession 124. Lucille was a riveter at General Fireproofing Co. in Youngstown, OH between 1943-1945. Size: 7”x9”.

 

Coveralls uniform from Bell Air Craft, (#1), with company patch (#2). Donated by Johnny Parris, accession 121. Evelyn DeLong Parris, donor’s mother, was an assembler and riveter at Bell Aircraft in Marietta, GA for 2 years.

 

Coveralls uniform. Donated by Neva R. Rees, accession 127. Neva was an armature winder at Black and Decker Electric Co. in Kent, OH for 6 months and then a class b mechanic at Goodyear Aircraft in Akron, OH for 1 year.

 

Bracelet made out of scrap metal with Marianas Marshall punched in it. Donated by Zelpha Bell Leverone, accession 264. Zelpha held many jobs during the war, including wing assembly line at Culver Aircraft in Wichita, KS and a riveter at Boeing for Cessna. Size: 1 ¼”x2 ¼”.

 

Bracelet made of scrap metal. Donated by Beatrice “Sammy” Bassler, accession 278. Size: ¼”x2.5”.

 

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Mini table and chairs made of scrap metal, front view (#1) and top view (#2). Donated by Frances LaBelle, accession 125. Frances was an aluminum welder at Grummar in Port Washington, NY for 2 years.

 

 

Different tools and equipment was used in factory work from larger riveting machines and small rivets to small drafting tools. Before anyone was hired for any factory job, they were tested to prove their skills. For riveters, they had to rivet a test plate and if their finished piece was acceptable, then they would be hired. In factories, there was a dress code and everyone had to wear the coveralls uniform. For many women, this was the first time that they wore pants. It was relatively common to make keepsakes out of scrap metal, especially bracelets.

 

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